1st Jan. 6 sedition sentences land 2 Oath Keepers in prison for 18 and 12 years
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes to 18 year in prison on Thursday for his role in planning and leading the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The sentence, the longest yet for a Jan. 6 defendant, was the first handed down among the handful of rioters convicted of seditious conspiracy, and the first augmented with a "terrorism" enhancement. Mehta told Rhodes he presents "an ongoing threat and a peril to this country, to the republic and the very fabric of our democracy."
Later Thursday, Mehta sentenced Oath Keepers Florida chapter leader Kelly Meggs to 12 years in prison. Meggs, a top Rhodes lieutenant, was also convicted of seditious conspiracy in November. Mehta is expected over the next nine days to sentence the other four Oath Keepers and members of the far-right Proud Boys found guilty of sedition. The sentences for Rhodes and Meggs suggest they will also get lengthy prison terms.
Meggs, unlike Rhodes, said in court he was "sorry to be involved with an event that put such a black eye on our country." Rhodes called himself a "political prisoner" whose "only crime is opposing those who are destroying our country." "You are not a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes," Mehta said, adding later, "The moment you are released, you will be prepared to take up arms against your government." Rhodes said he will appeal the sentence. Legal analysts suggested his legal strategy was to seek a pardon from the next Republican president.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Political cartoons for October 26Cartoons Sunday’s editorial cartoons include Young Republicans group chat, Louvre robbery, and more
-
Why Britain is struggling to stop the ransomware cyberattacksThe Explainer New business models have greatly lowered barriers to entry for criminal hackers
-
Greene’s rebellion: a Maga hardliner turns against TrumpIn the Spotlight The Georgia congresswoman’s independent streak has ‘not gone unnoticed’ by the president
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
